Hogan prisoner of Australia over disputed tax debt

The Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan has been stopped from leaving Australia over a disputed tax debt. He lives in California but returned to Sydney on Friday morning for his mother's funeral. He was devastated when The Australian Taxation Office slapped an overseas travel ban on him.

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TONY EASTLEY: The Crocodile Dundee star, Paul Hogan has found himself grounded in Australia, unable to return to his home in California, until he settles a big tax bill with the Australian Taxation Office.

Mr Hogan flew to Sydney on Friday morning to attend his mother's funeral, but soon afterwards was issued with an order preventing him from leaving Australia.

Mr Hogan, who has had a five-year legal fight with the ATO, denies he's done anything wrong and his lawyer says the ATO's actions have made his client a prisoner of Australia.

Brendan Trembath reports.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Paul Hogan's 101-year-old mother Florence died last Wednesday and her famous son flew to Sydney for the funeral.

But now he can't leave Australia, by order of the Australian Tax Office.

Paul Hogan's lawyer is Andrew Robinson.

ANDREW ROBINSON: On Friday evening his daughter was served with a departure prohibition order which effectively prevents Paul from leaving the country for any foreign country until either the disputed tax claim that's currently being made by the ATO is paid or compromised to the satisfaction of the commissioner of taxation.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: How much of a surprise was that for his daughter and for Paul Hogan?

ANDREW ROBINSON: Well I think you can imagine, there's no reason to suspect that the commissioner new about Paul's mother's funeral, but I think you can imagine the impact as a family gets together the night before the funeral of their mother and grandmother what the kind of impact a notice effectively detaining Paul in Australia for the foreseeable future would have it was absolutely devastating.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The Australian Taxation Office has declined to comment on Paul Hogan's grounding. A spokesman says individual cases can't be discussed.

But the star's lawyer Andrew Robinson sheds some light on what's been happening behind the scenes.

ANDREW ROBINSON: We immediately opened discussions with the Australian Taxation Office and those discussions are ongoing. We are hoping that they will result in an arrangement that will allow him to go back to his wife and son.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Paul Hogan is the best known subject of a joint investigation by the tax office and the Australian Crime Commission into the use offshore tax havens. He has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.

His lawyer Andrew Robinson says Paul Hogan retains close ties to Australia and it's odd that he's considered a flight risk.

ANDREW ROBINSON: He's got a brother, sister, five children and nine grandchildren. To assume that he won't turn up in Australia to answer allegations that he has been fighting vigorously for five years seems to be without foundation.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: He says his client's spent a fortune arguing his case with the tax office and the dispute is still in court.

ANDREW ROBINSON: I tend to think this may not be the appropriate circumstances to effectively make Paul a prisoner of Australia.